The Employee Benefit Research Institute (ebri.org) recently released its retirement-readiness study. In short, what it finds is that living longer, saving too little and inadequate planning for health care costs will leave many retirees short of money to pay basic living expenses.

The study says that a third of middle-income workers will likely run out of money after 20 years of retirement, and significantly more lower-income workers will deplete their savings after 10 years.

All are good reasons to take an active role in your retirement savings with a self-directed IRA (and self-directed HSA, too). Unfortunately, a passive role is what you’re most likely accustomed to – an approach where you select or adjust limited investments options without really knowing whether or not the change is the right move. Essentially, you’re driving a vehicle with a muddy windshield and ineffective steering.

Taking an active role with a self-directed IRA brings a greater sense of control. With nearly unlimited investment options and the ability to invest in what you know and understand, you can make more confident and informed decisions. Using the vehicle metaphor again, the windshield’s been cleaned and you suddenly have incredible handling capabilities.

Today, there are a number of established and emerging investment opportunities for self-directed accounts. Here are just a handful of the options available: real estate (including mobile home investing), tax liens, renewable energy, oil and gas, precious metals, equipment leasing and promissory notes.

Want More Information on Self-Directed Investing?

• Check out all the Equity University educational events, including the 2010 Equity University Networking Conference.
• Speak with an Equity Trust IRA Specialist today at 1-888-382-4727.

Filed under: Uncategorized on September 13th, 2010